Home Secretary David Blunkett today won his appeal against a High Court ruling that quashed Government decisions to bar black United States political leader Louis Farrakhan from the UK.

Three Court of Appeal judges said the Home Secretary's decision was based upon his assessment of the risk - because of the black leader's "notorious opinions" - a visit might provoke disorder. The judges, who were told Farrakhan was known for anti-Semitic and racially-divisive views, allowed the appeal.

Shark horror

A shark dragged a man from his friend's arms and killed him today off Australia's southern coast. The victim, a 23-year-old diver, was attacked off Smoky Bay, 300 miles northwest of the state capital Adelaide, ambulance spokesman Lee Francis said.

Saudi case plea

The Tories today called on the Foreign Office to clear up the "confusion" over the fate of five British men held on bombing charges in Saudi Arabia. Some reports have suggested that one of the men has been sentenced to death by beheading in a secret trial and that the others have received jail sentences of up to 18 years.

Chirac's left turn

French President Jacques Chirac appealed today to left-wing voters - his traditional opponents - for their help to defeat the far right Jean-Marie Le Pen in Sunday's presidential election run-off.

Poll in Pakistan

Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, today put his future in the hands of voters, having promised to step aside if they decide in a national referendum to deny him five more years as president. But with the backing of business, unions and the military an electoral victory is all but certain, analysts say.

Train firms' fury

Train companies have hit out at claims in the Consumers' Association's Which? magazine that passengers get wrong information about routes, fares and tickets in two-thirds of cases. The Association of Train Operating Companies described the report as "a piece of unrepresentative rubbish".

Sex education call

Teachers are not doing enough to counter the false message from magazines read by hundreds of thousands of girls each week that all teenagers are having sex, education watchdog Ofsted warned today.